Look to him who is the lightbringer who protects we lost in the darkness.
Conner momentarily looked at the two of us before he sighed, leaning against the one-way window
"What happened was that I came here to do a new interrogation of our prisoner for further information about this mirror manufacturing place in Italy. When I entered the cell, he was on the floor unmoving, so I poked him. He was completely cold and seemed like he died sometime during the night. Did you do anything to him during your interrogation?"
That question pissed me off slightly before I snap down the wrath as that was valid.
"I didn't, even though I wanted to after his insult to my mother."
Conner studied me carefully for a few moments before he started to relax.
"I didn't think you had from what I saw and heard from the video, but I'd rather be safe than sorry."
I don't begrudge him that before Conner's eyes fell on the unconscious floating magician behind Issari.
"How hard was the fight with them?"
Issari answered as she glanced at the magician for a moment.
"Not very. Many of the magicians we fought were apprentices Nilrem poached from the other guilds as their magic use was sloppy and spell knowledge limited."
I pull the burnt paper out of the pocket spell and hand it to Conner.
"We also found this."
He took the paper and studied the word before Issari took over again.
"We think this Nanki is either a place or object here in Japan or Asia, given the spell books and artifacts we found at the warehouse."
Conner kept studying the paper as he followed Issari and meninto the cell. Issari was setting them on the metal cot and putting magic restraints on them, which I made before I sighed.
"I will ask my cousin in the Principal Clans, along with my new possible betrothed's mother and sisters, who are powerful youkai who might know what this Nanki is."
As soon as I said, Issari froze before turning to me, her eyes narrowing in hate. Conner sighed before putting the paper in his pocket.
"I'll start digging into this when I get my next group of people coming from Valoel's cadre after the conference. How long do you think the magician will be out for?"
I shrug while Issari's tic mark begins forming. She and I step out of the cell, close the door, and lock it before I tell Conner.
"An hour to an hour and a half."
Conner shrugged, too, before he checked his watch. The man then got a slightly goofy grin on his face
"I'll be back later for the magician's interrogation as I have a date with a certain blue-haired angel."
With that, the man walked down the hallway with a tiny spring in his step. As soon as he was gone, Issari dragon growled and launched a knuckleheaded attack.
"How the fuck did you get another one, you prick!"
Her tic mark grew even larger, and I rolled my eyes before walking up the hallway.
"By impressing a very powerful kitsune without knowing or trying to."
That pissed off the chestnut, who followed and growled at me.
"That's centaur shit; how are you so lucky to get more! What about me!"
Her anger was palpable, and her growl increased as we approached the teleporters. We passed Paula, who was with multiple other Skitarii doing a tour of the building, and I finally snaked at her.
"Git Gud Iguana. I am so 'lucky.' One of my new possible sisters-in-law is a hardcore sis-con that has threatened to dunk me repeatedly in a bathtub of fox fire if I hurt their precious little sister."
That shut up, the dragon growls just as we hit the teleporter room. We continued onto the pad in silence before we jumped to the
manor and stepped off the pad. As I hit the buttons to take us to the underworld, Issari finally regained her voice.
"I take it back."
I rolled my eyes at her.
"Of course you do. It could always be worse, Gecko. I could be stuck on a hive world of eternal night being chased around by a deranged and cannibalistic demigod. I'd rather take a million dunks in the fire bath than that."
That got a series of rapid, bewildered blinks from Issari.
"What the fuck?"
I shivered imagining Konrad and his flesh gallery.
"A Primarch, and yes, there was one like that."
Issari kept blinking at that before we stepped back onto the pad and were whisked away to the underworld.
As we stepped off the pad and into the great hall, Issari continued blinking bewilderingly as we crossed the hall, heading towards the basement. As we descended the stairs, Issari finally broke from her bewildered state.
"This Primarch and place… how bad were they that you would rather be dunked in fox fire?"
I turned to her.
"You know you and your senpai's sadism."
Issari nodded as I got a far-off look.
"He was that cranked up to sixty with a special fondness for flaying people alive. As for how bad the world called Nostromo was, imagine a worldwide city with billions of people, and the only thing keeping the population from getting any larger was the suicide rate. Being dunked in one of the hottest types of fires repeatedly is nothing compared to being on that world with him."
That shuts Issari up, making her look at the ground as we descended. We passed the generator floor, and I will make the city ones in a bit. As we walked through it and down onto the next flight of stairs, Issari stayed silent before we hit the bottom.
We turned to the hallway to the three science labs to see that the doors to Mittelt and Hetvia's labs were open. Issari and I slowly approached them before we heard voices from Hetvia's labs. I opened the door to
see Mittelt and Hetvia in front of the robot builders by the four Castalira robots, who were slowly starting to walk off their assembly platforms. Mittelt was in a mix of her gothic dress and a lab coat, while Hetvia wore a T-shirt and jeans with oil markings. They were watching the robots, allowing Issari and me to walk into Hetvia's lab unnoticed.
As we approached the others the four robots looked at their hands and bodies for a moment before the castalira on the far right caught sight of me. Its silver-plated dome lit up before it spoke.
"Omnissiah."
This robot had a male-patterned voice, and the word made the rest of the robots, along with Hetvia and Mittelt, turn toward us. I gave it a slight grin at the six as Issari, and I stopped close to the workbench.
"Welcome back, and please just Gregor. How are your new bodies?
The robots looked at their chassis, and another one spoke.
"It will take some getting used to, especially the lack of skin. Still, it's much better than being a spirit in constant pain."
That had been a female voice, and the other robots voiced their agreement before the first robot spoke again.
"I am beyond intrigued to see these cars and tractors of that place. Before the end, one of my life goals was to try to make something
better than the gas guzzlers."
The male voice started taking on an Italian accent, and I could hear his eagerness as my grin grew.
"They aren't the most advanced type of either vehicle from that place, but they are a massive improvement to our current ones. We can eventually retool your manufactorium to make those more advanced vehicles. What is your name by chance?"
The robot grew confused.
"Alessio Alberti, why…."
I smirk wide.
"The name for the car model we will be building was never relearned. I propose we call the first model the Alessio after you."
Alessio went still before his sliver head plate flashed rapidly, and another of the robots spoke for him.
"He would very much appreciate that, Gregor. I'm Isotta Alberti, his wife. I have a question about how we will know how to build the items in our manufactoriums, as you call them."
I chuckle at that before pulling out the anvil. As I do that, I see Issari slink her way over to
Mittelt while Hetvia comes over to me along with the robots. I picked up the hammer before looking at the robots.
"By way of what is called a doctrina. I am sure you can see the slots on your chests."
The four robots looked down and saw the ten small slots that formed a row on their upper chests. I swung the hammer and then picked up two of what looked like floppy discs. The robots stared at the thing, and Hetvia asked.
"That's how?"
I nod before gesturing for Alessio to step forward. The robot does, and I slide the doctrina into his first slot. Alessio froze for a moment before letting out a gasp as his head plate lit up.
"That's oh…. It's powered by a cell that lasts.... thirty years!!!!!!!"
Alessio went into shocked silence as the discs integrated with him. The other robots looked at their fellow as I made a supervillain
smirk.
"Yes, and once it goes out, the cell can be replaced in under five minutes. We will drive the gas companies out of business as the cells are easy to make yet won't be easy to reverse engineer."
Alessio looked ready to start dancing, and he started doing so as I looked at the other robots.
"Which of you has gun-making experience?"
That question made the other female robot raise her right arm.
"That would be me. I'm Mei."
I swing again, make four doctrinas, and then gesture to each of the discs.
"I am trusting you greatly with this, Mei. On each of these is how to make las, plasma, boltguns, and volkite weapons along with their various ammunition types."
The robot was silent as it looked at the discs before her silver head plate lit up, and a massive squeal came from the Mei.
"You can trust me! I treated each of my guns when I made them like my babies, and the new ones will receive the same treatment!"
Mei soon started giggling pervertedly as she inserted the discs into her chest. That made the now-done dancing Alessio, Isotta, the
unknown robot, Hetvia, and myself sweet drop collectively before I ignored the mad robot and made a doctrinal before handing it to Isotta.
"I will be having your place making mechadendrites for grape harvesting, general purpose, and military use."
Isotta took the disc and shrugged.
"I can add a few things to the grape ones. I was the farmer of the two of us, and we grew grapes for wine in Tuscany."
She inserted the disc into her chest while the last robot, which had a male voice, asked.
"What would I be making?"
I smiled slightly as I made two doctrinas.
"Swords and armor. Hetvia told me over our chat room you were a blacksmith before you died."
The robot took the two discs and shrugged as he inserted them into his chest.
"I was one, yes. I am still getting used to all this new stuff that wasn't around in my time."
His voice was taking on a Swedish accent, and I was curious.
"What time were you alive?"
The robot sighed.
"I was alive during what you call the Thirty Years War. I made weapons for my fellow Protestants in Germany."
I blinked at that, and the robot shrugged.
"I'm Anders. Your swords and armor fascinate me, as do many things I have seen as time passed. I want to learn everything that has happened but don't know where to start."
Isotta's head plate suddenly lit up before two eyes, and a smile appeared on the surface. I blinked at that while Hetvia looked smug.
"I added that."
Isotta turned her new eyes to look at the other robot.
"I would be happy to go over things with you, Anders. I originally wanted to be a history teacher before I married Alessio, and the Thirty Years War always fascinated me."
Anders shrugged as a mouth appeared on his head plate along with Alessio's and Mei's, and the Swede looked at Isotta carefully.
"Apologies, I am still getting used to the whole idea of Protestants and Catholics working together. I died on a battlefield in Bohemia run through by an Austrian with a pike."
Isotta's face plate smile took on a motherly look.
"Completely understandable, Anders. Believe it or not, the first time Catholics and Protestants worked together was during the latter part of the Thirty Years Wars..."
The Italian began teaching Anders while Alessio threw in a word every so often, and Mei kept giggling. It was then that Hetvia smiled wide.
"I really enjoyed Star Wars, though you are wrong about which is best."
I get an amused grin.
"Let me guess, Attack of the Clones is the best."
That got a big beaming smile as she ranted about what she wanted to do with her potential droid army.
A half-hour later, the four robots began trudging out of the lab to find Trina so she could introduce them to their manufactorium partners. As Mei exited the lab, still giggling about her soon-to-be guns and more,
Hetvia told me she had multiple ideas for a new series of droid gunships when Issari
and Mittelt rejoined us. Issari looked extremely pleased about something, and Mittelt held a data slate. She handed me the slate, and I took it curiously before she
explained to me.
"This is my newly finished and revamped nerve rework surgery. It took me a while to get past some of the bizarre quirks that the
original design of the surgery had, but the fatality rate is now less than three percent, and the pain is vastly reduced. I am very also close to getting the surgery modified to work on devils too and can have the first bed modified with the new surgery programs
in a few hours once done."
That put a massive grin on my face.
"That is awesome. Thoron and Katase will probably be the first to want the surgery, as will someone else I know."
That put a smug smirk on Mittelt before I got an apologetic face.
"Has he continued calling you?"
That smile disappeared from Mittelt, who gave me a look before she sighed.
"He has, and I decided to pick up the call made yesterday after the ringing lasted for six hours. I told him where and who I was with, and the first thing he and Peneume did was let out a massive sigh of relief. Did you?"
She was looking at me, and I nodded.
"I did tell him your location via Serafall Leviathan, though not your devil nature. I'm sorry, but this was the only way I could think of getting him to agree to meet at the base for the peace talks. In the base reality, they get attacked by the Brigade, and it was
held in a school in the city."
Mittelt grunted though she wasn't as mad as I thought she would be.
"I pretty much figured you had. I'm still unhappy about that, but you were right that Gramps and Peneume didn't care about my new nature when I told them. In fact, Gramps got super eager to talk to you once he heard
the confirmation of who I was with. Be ready for him to try and hook us up, as he has heard lots about you."
I took the warning, and then Mittelt sighed as a spell buzzer went off, then turned towards the door.
"I have a call to take. Be at the medical ward at ten on Wednesday, reptile, for your bones. I also made improvements on that, so you're welcome."
Her voice was extremely smug, and Issari gave Mittelt a grateful smile. My pawn began moving towards the door out of the lab, but just before she left, she grunted out.
"Tell the spy I want to discuss some botanical things with him. I have an interesting idea that involves his special flower that he supposedly revived."
I gave her a strange look before saying.
"I will tell him that and I will have more generators for you to tinker with later."
Mittelt shrugged and walked out the door, and I sighed, thinking about Magdaran before Hetvia chimed in.
"I like our spy. He came down here yesterday, followed by Kiryuu-chan, and started asking questions about my robots. He even got most of what I said, too."
l gave her a pointed look."
"You haven't told him about machine spirits or anything like that, have you?"
Hetvia shook her head.
"I didn't just basic stuff like motor joints."
That got a sigh of relief from me.
"Good because people are already speculating how the robots move and act alive. So far, they believe its by an enchantment like you would see on a war golem."
Hetvia frowns for a moment before she nods her head slowly.
"I can see where they would make the comparison. Our records about war golems say they were almost lifelike."
Her frown spread to Issari and I before I asked.
"Records?"
Hetvia nodded.
"Records. No one has seen or studied a war golem since the Civil War. The Original Asmodeus's were the only ones who knew how to make them."
My frown grew as I remembered that base in Normandy.
"Do you think you can spare some time to get us records of war golems for the Legio?"
Hetvia heard something in my voice before she nodded.
"I'll ask my dad to send me the few scrolls we have on battles that had them during the Great War."
I gave her a thankful look before Hetvia looked at her robot makers. Two of them held a sleeping Mr. Cuddles and Sparkles, who had new additions to their chassis in more armor plating, and she started walking in
that direction.
"I am testing to see how heavy I can make their plating just in case we end up in another battle or ratings game. I don't want my big brothers to be hurt again and go offline even for a bit."
Her bro-con self was out in force, and I eyed the robots briefly.
"We will let you go. Have fun with your tests."
Hetvia nodded, and I quickly pulled Issari with me out of the labs, shutting the door. No sooner had I let go of Issari's arm and moved
away from the labs before the chestnut grunted.
"Your pawn is a spy!"
That made me sigh again as Issari followed me.
"Yes, he is one, but spies can work both ways, Gecko. I'm going to need him for multiple reasons."
Issari looked bewildered as we began climbing up the stairs.
"Like what?"
I imagine Sairarog and his battle-fanatic smile.
"His half-brother and Grandfather. When I was at the devil parliament last week his brother all but challenged me to a ratings game. He is the strongest young devil, and unlike the base reality, he has the power of destruction and was also one of the base you's temporary rivals. As for his Grandfather, I want to eventually crush the
GKF completely, and while Lord Bael is the public head, Zekram Bael is the true
ruler of the party. They treated my new pawn as less than dirt and thus probably knows how his mind works somewhat and has
heard interesting things."
We had reached the power generator floor, and I turned left from the stairs towards the room while Issari followed along, worried. Once inside the Ryza power station room, I pulled out the anvil and prepared to make
the fifty plasma generators to power the city's grid. I picked up the hammer
and swung before the first generator appeared. As I was getting ready to move
and make the second one, Issari grunted.
"I'll be ready in case this game happens. How strong was he without the power of destruction?"
I swung, making the next generator.
"Very. He also had a Longinus in his peerage there."
That made Issari blink, and as I moved to make the next generator, she sputtered.
"Which one and who was the user?"
I swing again and shrugged.
"It was Regulas Nemae, and there was no user in the traditional sense."
That bewildered Issari further, so I elaborated.
"The 'user' is the Longinus itself, who goes by the name Regulus. He was a seven-piece pawn and could aid Sairarog by becoming his armor, giving him additional strength and durability. I must get my balance break if I fight him because Regulas could do it already there."
That would be one of the first things I wanted to ask Azazel about after the conference if it went well. I would also need to develop something to regenerate armor plating until I switched Magdaran to my side. Issari finally brokefrom her shock over learning this.
"I'll step up my work on mine again, too. I stopped after getting it to where I could be in balance break for six minutes before I collapse."
I let out a sigh of relief and then swung again, making another generator.
"Please tell me how you got your balance break to go through besides willpower. Maybe it will help me with mine."
Issari nodded before she began explaining the concept.
The talk lasted four hours, and I asked multiple questions to clarify a few things she told me. Most of it made no sense to me, but a few nuggets did, and I began imagining them. During that time, I was moving and hooking the generators up to the power boxes, and when I finished hooking up the last one, I heard a faint buzzing. I saw Issari outside the power room, taking a call
on her phone. Her back was turned to me before I stood up and exited the room,
closing the door. My best friend replied hastily something before the chestnut
finished her call and snapped her phone shut to look at me.
"I got to go. My grandmother is coming to visit us. She only sees us twice yearly, and I want to introduce her to Senpai."
I shrugged and checked my own phone to see if it was nearing six.
"Not a problem, Iguana. Have fun with that, and tell your folks I say hi."
Issari nodded before she practically ran up the hallway and stairs, leaving a smoke cloud. As soon as I reached the top of the stairs and stepped into the great hall, I found a surprising sight. It was Trina, who was
wearing an angry face. She quickly moved over to me and whispered something in
my ear. That something put a frown on my face before I nodded and followed her
out.
Trina led me across the manor grounds, and the road before the two of us approached the
apartment building the levy was using. My captain opened the door and entered
the lobby before the two of us passed by her second, who was talking with two
other levies and the sheriff veteran. We continued and went right into a small
hallway with multiple cells. Trina finally stopped in front of a cell three down from the hallway entrance and glared at the person inside.
I stopped atthe cell and looked inside. Standing in a corner was a young woman three years older than me who was incredibly scared. As I looked at her, I first
noted that she wore a rough-looking nun outfit of black that went well with her
long, curly black hair and green eyes. She wore anti-magic cuffs, and as I
studied her, I could feel she was a reincarnated single-piece bishop. Her
shaking grew worse as I did this before I finally asked Trina.
"Who is this?"
Trina glared hard at the bishop before us.
"We don't know who she is."
I returned to studying the bishop, who seemed to wilt under my gaze before Trina continued.
"She was trying to sneak into the city while the man at the entrance was doing a check on a new group of arrivals. She almost got past him, but luckily, I was heading there with the soon-to-be next man on duty, and we saw her and detained her. I think she might be another agent of the Naberius here to try again."
I take that assessment as I study the woman in the cell who flinched at the accusation and looked down. After a moment of silence, I finally asked.
"Is my captain right, bishop? Are you a member of the Heir to House Naberius's peerage? Answer truthfully or else."
The woman looked up from the ground and shook her head violently.
"No milord, I am not theirs! I am...…"
She hesitated and then grew even more scared of whoever her king was. As she shook, she lowered her head and closed her eyes. I watched her before it clicked in my head as I finally recognized her. My red eyes narrowed at her as the rat had finally made a move.
"She's not a piece of the Naberius Heir."
Trina didn't get the new hostility, and the bishop wilted more as I glared before turning away from her to face my captain.
"She was probably sent here to spy on me
for her king, my uncle Diodora. Trina, get some restraints, and we will start..."
My order was cut off as a loud wail came from the bishop before the woman started weeping horribly as she fell to her knees. Her crying was terrible and continued even when she opened her green eyes to look up at me.
"Don't send me back to him! I'm not a spy! I am a stray!"
That stopped my anger as I looked at her, and Trina quickly went on guard, though the wailing also took her aback. The bishop continued weeping, her eyes solely on me.
"I am his newest piece! I ran from him, who ruined my life as a humble nun when he got me excommunicated from the Catholic Church in Italy three months ago!"
She wept, her tears falling like a waterfall as they hit the cell floor. Trina and I watched in growing shock as the bishop continued weeping.
"He told me I was special and that he loved me! Yet it was all a cruel lie! He didn't love me! He only used me to get more information about another prominent and important holy maiden! After he reincarnated me and brought me to the castle, he started abusing me like he does the others! I promise that despite being a stray, I will never hurt anyone! Please, oh Omnissiah, give me a worthless cog, mercy, and pity! Don't send me back to him! Please!"
She continued weeping and chanting that word, and now Trina had genuine
pity in her eyes. I remember the train station feeling Xenovia spoke of for strays and how Kuoh was one of the only places they had a limited amount of protection. Thinking of that made my right-hand curl into a fist as the faces of strays who had little to no chance in a world against them. The bishop saw
the action, and it made her weeping start to die down. Her eyes searched me for
pity before she seemed to deflate as she now prepared for me to send her back.
Her knees began wobbling as she looked at the floor before I said in a low voice.
"You are not nor ever were a worthless cog and shall have my mercy. I will grant you sanctuary here, and if he comes for you, I will hide you from him."
The bishop froze and looked up at me with her green eyes in complete and utter shock. More tears started to form. They began to fall, and a joyful smile crossed her face. She got ready to grovel her thanks to me before I
stopped her again.
"You will keep your promise never to hurt anyone here. If my levy, the soon-to-be police force, or I find out you have broken any law for Ryza, I will turn you over to the Hunter's Guild without hesitation. This is the only chance you will get from me. Is that clear?"
The bishop nodded fast as her tears fell like a waterfall hitting the cell floor.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She kept saying that as a prayer as relief bloomed on her face. I eye Trina while the bishop does this.
"We will start allowing strays like her into the city while denying to the Guild or the other nobles that they are here. However, we will immediately get rid of the ones who are true monsters who might also try to come here. I
will have the Machine God help the man on duty at the entrance of the city to
tell which are which."
Trina was still looking at the weeping in relief bishop with a cautious face.
"I will tell the others this. They won't like it as strays are…"
I see that despite everything she saw, the prejudice against strays that commoners have was still strong.
"Her situation is much more common than you and the others believe. If the others don't like that, after you tell them that, tell them that this stray is a fellow cog. Could you send her back now, knowing all of this?"
Trina's face looked at the bishop's, who was looking at me like I was the sun had finally risen on a long and impossibly dark night. She was still thanking me repeatedly as happy tears fell from her face and hit her dress. The sight made Trina shake her head and say quietly.
"I couldn't if this is true. Is this really that common on why some of them run?"
Her face never left the bishop's, and I
closed my eyes, thinking of the others in his peerage.
"It is. The reason why they run is usually split fifty-fifty between this or normal power hunger, as you know."
Trina grew even more disturbed by this revelation and was silent while the bishop continued her chant. I was starting to get a major headache so I raised my hand. That movement finally made the bishop stop saying thank you. I opened my eyes again to see the nun looking at me with pure love as
my eyes settled on hers.
"You will be expected to help here in the city for your lodging and food."
The bishop nodded quickly as her face lit up further.
"I will do anything and everything that helps build the Great Work! You will find no harder a worker than me! Thank you, my Omnissiah!"
I sighed and looked at Trina.
"Get the cell keys and let her out. Then, have your second escort her to an apartment building that is empty and close to the barracks. Have him watch her."
Trina nods her head before heading off. Her footsteps echoed before I turned to look at the bishop again with a question burning in me.
"How did you hear that title?"
The nun continued looking at me with love as her eyes dimmed slightly in remembrance.
"I heard it from a gathering of the Cult of the Cog.
That answer made me blink as the bishop continued.
"Since I was the newest piece in his peerage and thus the one with the least signs of abuse, I was always the one sent to get him and the others food or Phenex tears. On one of my trips, I heard one of the reincarnated cooks inside the castle whispering to two others about the Omnissiah last week, and I
grew curious."
I gave her a nod to continue as my mind raced, and the nun got new tears of joy.
"That night, I followed them to one of the furthest greenhouses on the castle grounds and found a gathering of other reincarnated. I listened to them speak of the Cult of the Cog and the Omnissiah of Freedom. He who would break the chains of the reincarnated and free us again. I peered inside the greenhouse and saw an altar with a crude cog with a skull split in half. Looking at it lit
a spark of hope in me that I had long lost."
I was stunned to hear this, and now I ask myself, How far had it spread, and how big was this supposed cult? That question gnaws at me as the bishop continues.
"I went back to that spot to listen to them every night after that one. The more I heard from them, the more my spark grew till it became a fire in my heart. By Friday I like they believed, and seeing it again finally gave
me the courage to run from him."
As she continued, my patron finally spoke to me, answering my question. The answer was like being hit by truck-kun at full force and
velocity. This Cult of the Cog was spread across all territory that devils control in the underworld. It had also helped me in multiple surprising ways. They had provided a good chunk of the power that the Machine God had dumped into me while I was battling with Kokabiel. That news shocked me, along with the next revelation. This cult was made up of
commoners, reincarnated and a small but growing group of nobles from the pillars. The cult was growing steadily, too, and to my ever-growing shock, they already had a strong presence in Ryza, as many of the commoners coming here were members of it. All these revelations left me in shocked silence, which continued until I finally found my voice.
"I see. Thank you for sharing this."
The bishop had a big, happy smile, and it was then that Trina returned with the cell keys. My captain opened the door but watched the bishop in caution.
"I'll show you your quarters. Your name so I may tell your watcher."
The bishop deflated momentarily before fire returned to her eyes.
"Caterina. I will show you and them that I am like the Omnissiah of Freedom."
Trina eyed the other again with some doubt before she held the cell door open, and Caterina exited the cell. Trina closed the cell before we walked down the hall towards the lobby, where the man watched us with his cyborg eye.
As we approached, the eye zoomed in on Caterina, yet the look didn't cow her.
When we stopped before him, the two looked at each other before Trina whispered something in his ear. The man listened to this and nodded before he and Caterina exited the building. Trina and I were silent for a moment before I looked at her.
"Have him make daily reports on her and send them to me."
Trina nodded there.
"I will tell him that Milord."
I looked around the slowly getting darker room as the artificial sun started to set before getting a slight smirk. Seeing my smirk, Trina tilted her head, confused, before I chuckled.
"I have something to show you and a task for one of your people to do later."
Trina tilted her head again as I moved to the exit and moved my hand to the wall. Trina finally asked.
"What is this task, and what do you want to show me, milord?"
I smirk wider, enjoying this.
"The task is easy. The person you select is to head to all the apartments in the city to show the residents this."
Trina blinked, but I flipped the light switch before she could ask what it was. The lightbulbs flickered on, filling the room with light, and Trina blinked, trying to get used to the new brightness. Her face morphed to
amazement when she did, and the sight made me chuckle.
"The city now has power that everyone can use, and all the rooms in every building in the city have a switch like this. Welcome to the beginning of the Modern Age for the underworld."
Trina continued to look at the lights in awe, which was amusing. I chuckle again before I leave the building. As I stepped down the steps of the building, my good mood quickly disappeared as I thought about this Cult. Thinking about what to do with it kept me occupied on the way back across the street to the manor. I continued pondering how to solve this problem even as I stepped onto the teleporter.
As I stepped into the front hall and about to turn into the kitchen, I heard footsteps coming from the main stairs. I turned to see Neri and a slightly tired Ingvild approaching round the corner. My maid had one arm around Ingvild, helping to steady her when she wobbled, while in her other arm was a dozing Barkspawn. Upon seeing me Ingvild and her bird which was on her shoulder lit up and as soon as the trio came close enough to the kitchen entrance Barkspawn's central head nose twitched. The Cerberus immediately woke up and began panting happily before she suddenly jumped out of
Neri's arms, yipping in glee.
I quickly caught the puppy, and no sooner was she in my arms than she began licking my face while wagging her little tail. This scene got a smile from Neri and a giggle from Ingvild's bird. I pet Barkspawn a few times, getting her to calm down before looking at Ingvild and Neri, who had reached my side. The smile on Ingvild's face that I caught out of the corner of my eyes
was beautiful as her orange orbs watched Barkspawn give me a few more licks
before she settled down. I looked up at her thoroughly before asking.
"Fun day of stairs?"
Ingvild's bird warbled to life.
"It was. I was able to go up and down three times today."
Her enthusiasm and joy for achieving that was clear to hear even from the mechanical voice before I moved to the other side of her to let her lean on me. Ingvild did, allowing Neri to move into the kitchen before she touched a pot of something on the stove, and the delicious aroma of soup filled the
kitchen. That smell made my mouth water before the sound of three stomachs
growling was heard. One was mine, while the others came from Ingvild and Barkspawn. Ingvild blushed red while Barkspawn yipped, and I set the Cerberus on the ground. Barkspawn ran off to her bowls and began chowing down on dog food while Neri sat two bowls of soup out on the island along with spoons for Ingvild and me. I helped Ingvild into her chair and sat beside her before
bringing over her bowl. Ingvild picked up the spoon slowly and began to eat, as
did I, and we enjoyed the food in comfortable silence for a bit before Ingvild's bird looked over at me and warbled out.
"I would like one of those computer things. Rias promised to help me to join something called DevilTube. She says that she and Kuroka do something fun on it together."
I fondly rolled my eyes at Rias's attempt to beat our Akeno there.
"I'd be happy to make you a better version of a computer called a cogitator tonight after our walk. I'd also be happy to make you an
account for DevilTube, though what Rias and Kuroka do might not be your cup of tea."
However, Ingvild didn't look dissuaded by this as the bird warbled again.
"I would like to see it before I decide. The two told me that they have a big thing called a stream they are doing later this week."
That made me interested before I shrugged.
"I see. I will have to make time for that."
At that moment, Neri asked from over by the stove as she poured soup into bowls for later.
"I heard you are making a DevilTube channel, milord."
When I heard that, Ingvild's face turned my way and I sighed.
"I am and plan to do my first thing on it soon."
That news made Neri look over her shoulder, and Ingvild's face grew even more interested as her bird chirped out.
"What will your channel be called?"
She was eager to know, along with Neri, who leaned in, too, and I finally finished my bowl.
"It will be called the Librarium of Prospero."
I finally settled on what point to start for this, and Koriel agreed that it was decent. Especially since it didn't require her to
make an appearance for it, she did say that she had made a significant breakthrough for the reader and confidently moved up the date for testing it by two and a half weeks. That put a smirk on my face that had Ingvild blush slightly while being confused along with Neri at the name before my maid shrugged and returned to her work. Ingvild soon finished her bowl before I took the dishes to the sink and put them away in the
dishwasher. No sooner had the dishes touched the metal before I heard a whine from next to me. I looked over to see Barkspawn next to the open door, looking at me with begging eyes that were ultra-wide and cute. The yellow orbs stared
at me, and I knew what she wanted without her having to use the familiar bond.
"Yes, Bark, we can walk as soon as Ingvild is ready."
Barkspawn yipped excitedly and dashed around the island, heading towards the front door. A stream of giggles came from Ingvild's bird as she watched the Cerberus before it
warbled out.
"I am ready."
She began slowly getting off the chair, and I moved to help her again, letting her lean on me. Some of her purple hair fell over my
shoulder as we approached the front door, where Barkspawn was excitedly running
around in a circle. I opened the door, and the sun began to set, painting the manor home in an orange glow of light. Barkspawn yipped loudly and then charged off into the yard to roll around in the grass while Ingvild stared at the sky, admiring the orange sky. Then she stepped forward down the front steps while
leaning on me as I matched her speed.
Soon, we were off the cobblestone path and passed onto the grass before we began a slow walk around the property's perimeter, following the brick wall. Barkspawn stopped rolling around in the grass before she ran
over to us. She started walking on my left side, moving faster than Ingvild and
me as she explored and sniffed about. Ingvild and I soon reached the corner of
the wall and turned, and as we continued walking, Ingvild looked over at me
with her orange eyes. They studied me carefully, and a hint of a blush appeared
on her face before her arm slowly gripped me tighter as the walk continued. Her
grip on my arm grew as the walk continued.
The two of us walked in a comfortable silence that was only broken occasionally by Barkspawn, yipping at something new in the yard before she'd run back to us—on the completion of the first lap and the start of the second, Ingvild walked a tiny bit faster.
Our speed increased for only half of that lap before Ingvild started slowing but despite that, she didn't ask to stop. As we continued walking, a look entered her eyes—one I saw in Rias's often. It was greed, and as we walked around the yard for the sixth time and the orange sky darkened I said, amused.
"I wouldn't have guessed it was that. I am wrath, by the way."
Ingvild stopped sin feeding for a moment before she blushed, and her bird warbled out.
"I wouldn't have guessed that either. You control it well."
Her compliment was taken in stride before I shrugged.
"I practiced. Why is yours that?"
Ingvild looked up at the sky, and her face was full of longing.
"It is that because for as long as I lived, I never knew the world off the property Mama,
and I lived on. It made me long to explore the world and see what was out there."
Her face grew melancholic as she watched the slowly beginning to show stars.
"I wanted to see the many places described in the books and photos Papa would bring to our home every two weeks. I grew to await those days greedily, especially as I couldn't ever go further than thirty meters from
our home. Whenever I asked Mama and Papa why, they said it was because it was
unsafe. No matter what I tried or said to them, I could never convince them to
let me go further. I want to experience it all."
Her story was understandable and sad before I looked at my fellow hybrid and made a new oath.
"I will do whatever I can to help you see the world. And maybe beyond it eventually."
My oath made Ingvild look from the sky to me with a waterfall of emotions. She could see I meant it, and a wide, beautiful smile
grew on her face as we got ready to finish what would be our seventh lap. As we
turned the corner and came to the cobblestone pathway, Ingvild prepared to say something, but her smile vanished as she caught sight of something.
Turning that way made me see what she was looking at. It was the backs of the queens and Hana entering the house with dozens of shopping bags. Ingvild and I looked at them until they entered the house and closed the
door. When I turned back to Ingvild I
saw something enter her eyes and whatever it was broke her sin feeding as she watched the door before she said in a whisper.
"I think I am done for tonight."
My gaze fell on her.
"Are you sure? We can go a few more laps if you want."
Ingvild looked extremely tempted for a few moments before she shook her head in a no. I accepted her decision and started slowly guiding her to the front door. Seeing us move that way, Barkspawn, who had been sniffing a tree at the right corner of the yard, bounded
over to us, yipping before she came to a halt next to us. I picked her up before opening the front door and gently leading Ingvild in before shutting the door.
As we climbed the stairs and moved towards her room, Ingvild remained quiet. A sadness seemed to grow in her even though Barkspawn tried to cheer her. Once we reached the top and turned left, I promised Ingvild.
"Once we get to your room, I'll make you a cogitator and help you create a DevilTube account."
Despite hoping this would improve Ingvild's mood, the promise didn't. She only gave a slight nod as we reached her bedroom door. As I opened it and began leading Ingvild to the bed, I set Barkspawn down first before helping Ingvild into the bed. The sad look stayed with her even as I made her cogitator
and helped set up her account. The look only melted when I clicked on a travel video shot in France. Hearing French made a smile cross her face as she looked at the screen before her bird warbled.
"Thank you for the walk and this, Gregor."
Seeing her happy again and Barkspawn cutely coming over and cuddling up next to Ingvild's lap made me chuckle.
"It was and never will be a problem, Ingvild. Please have a good night."
Ingvild smiled wide and returned it just as I approached the door.
"Good night, Gregor."
I turned from her and began walking out of the room, noticing Ingvild watching me out of the corner of her eyes with a slight smile.
No sooner was Ingvild's door closed and I was out in the hallway than I heard a faint noise coming from my bedroom. It was the sound of voices, and they were coming from the bedroom. As I approached, the noise grew louder, and I heard someone inside being extremely excited. I put my hand on the doorknob and opened the door to see a surprising sight.
Xenovia was spinning in a circle while holding a letter. She had a massive smile, and her brown eyes flashed blue rapidly. The rest of the queens were watching her from the bed, who also seemed in a good mood, while all their shopping bags were on our couch. I closed the door, and the sound of the door clicking shut made Xenovia stop spinning to catch sight of me. Her eyes flashed blue multiple times before she charged straight at me. Before I could get a
word in, she grabbed me and brought me in for an almost suffocating hug against
her chest and began to spin again.
She put her rook strength into that hug, lifting me off the ground and making a rib crack slightly as a groan escaped my lips. She didn't hear that, and at the start of the second spin, Xenovia exclaimed excitedly.
"Beloved, I just learned some wonderful news! My mother will be leading the Catholic exorcists at the peace conference on Wednesday! I can't wait to have you meet her and my lines are favorable for us!"
Xenovia's excitement grew even more, saying that her eyes flashed exceptionally
brightly. I couldn't get anything out as I was being held so tightly and hard that the rib cracked again. The new pain this time made me groan, and this was heard by Xenovia, who stopped her spinning. She eased up on the hug before setting me down and letting
me go before wrapping her arms around my right one. I take a moment to let the
rib heal before I say happy for her.
"I can't wait to meet her Novi."
That got a sigh of thanks from Xenovia before a stream of pervert giggles came as she snuggled into my side. The rest of the queens snickered before my red eyes looked at the others. Seeing their clear, good mood, I asked.
"Everything went well today with your shopping trip with Hana?"
Everyone smiled wide and quickly nodded except for Murayama, who started her own perverted giggling, and Rias, who looked ashamed for a moment before a tiny blush crossed her face as she became the spokesperson.
"We had a wonderful time today. Xenovia was right Gregor-kun Hana-chan and I are remarkably similar. She and I have bonded on multiple things today, and I approve of her totally for us and joining us in here soon."
That was good news, and then Ravel chimed in.
"Hana is currently in my old room here, but while we were out, she told us to tell you she would like to talk to you tomorrow morning. Said she is close to making a decision."
I lost a bit of my good mood thinking of this Nanki before a squeeze from Xenovia banished the thought away. Her bright, happy smile and the look of contentment on her face set the tone for the rest of the night as I relaxed with them. Soon I was the last awake and before I laid my head down I sent a message to Suzaku asking her when she was free next.
The moon was rising over the Nilrem warehouse as Aj stared at a laptop
screen while the minicomputer was hooked up to the CCTV hard drive. He had not been having a good time today as whoever had
attacked this place had a skilled hacker with them, as the footage for all the cameras here had been almost completely scrubbed. Nearly being the keyword, it was only because of his own better skill at computers and hacking that he managed to save ten seconds' worth of blurry footage from the cameras. He was still cleaning up the footage, and as the program on his laptop did its work, Aj watched the screen with a clenched jaw as Killian's parting words rang in his head.
"Find out who did this and took it. Or else I will tell him myself of this failure."
That threat and thinking about the possible fate was broken before the computer pinged and the blurry footage began to clear up, showing the hallway close to the CCTV room. As the first second became completely visible it gave him nothing as it was just an empty hall. The second, then the third-sixth seconds came back with an empty hall. Aj grew for a moment worried then let loose a sigh of relief as the four remaining seconds gave him salvation. Out of the CCTV room stepped two figures in strange red armor. One was helmeted while the other wasn't.
On both of their armor chests was an odd symbol that was a cog with a human skull split down the middle. Aj looked at that symbol briefly before looking at the non-helmed person. It was a seventeen-year-old kid with medium-length green hair and red
eyes. As Aj stared at this damned kid as a sneer crossed his face before making
copies of that frame for Killian. As the pages began printing, the two figures left
the last frame before the cameras fuzzed over. Midway through the printing, Aj
had a stray thought cross his mind. He then wanted to smack himself for being ultra-stupid before he cast a spell.
Four people were eating at a table in their new home under the watchful dim light of several candles. The youngest member of the four eagerly told her parents and uncle about her latest adventure with her new friends in the park while holding her stuffed rabbit. The family was finishing the last of
their food and was about to put away dishes when there was a knock on the door
to their home.
The father blinked at that before he moved to answer it and, upon opening the door, was surprised to see one of the levy guards of the Omnissiah in the hallway. The guard smiled a little as amusement crossed his face.
"This will be quick, so don't worry. May I
please come inside for a moment?"
The father blinked at that and nodded, letting the man into their home, but before he could ask what this was about, the man moved a hand to the side of the door. He then flipped a strange thing on the wall that the father and
his family had no clue what it was when they first saw it, so they left it alone. The thing flipped up, and then something amazing happened. Light ten times brighter than the candles that filled the front part of their home. The father and family blinked in shock as they gazed up at the ceiling to see where
the light was coming from. It was coming from multiple holes in the ceiling, and
the guard must have seen this reaction numerous times now as he chuckled before
looking at the candles.
"You won't need those anymore. Just hit
one of the multiple switches scattered across the apartment. To turn them off,
just flip the switch again. Now if you will excuse me, I need to head next door.
Have a good night."
The guard stepped out of their home, and the father closed the door behind him absentmindedly. The family kept looking up at the ceiling in shock. Then came a loud shriek of excitement from the little girl as she sprang up from the table with her rabbit. She ran to a switch and flipped it up, making more light appear in the kitchen. This action made another shriek of glee come from her before she giggled while playing with the switch. The lights began flicking on and off
as the mother, father, and uncle broke from their shock. Then massive smiles crossed
their faces, seeing their daughter/niece's delighted face and excited giggles.
The three thanked the Omnissiah and Machine God now before the mother extinguished their candles for the final time.
In a castle of a Pillar of the underworld inside a vast kitchen, two reincarnated continued their soul-crushing work. The Lord of the Pillar had thrown a massive party for himself and his family like he usually did four
times a week to feed his obvious sin of gluttony, and now, like always, there
was a massive pile of used dishes waiting to be washed. The artificial moon of
the underworld was peering through a window into the kitchen onto two reincarnated who, despite their best efforts, were only a third of the way through washing said dishes by hand. The male of the two reached for another set of two plates and passed one to his sister. The two got ready to submerge the plates when they froze, and something started to form in the bubbles their hands were in. The bubbles soon coalesced into a symbol they both knew well
before. They stared at it in shock, and then below it formed words that read.
Don't lose hope, my cogs. Run to the place you have heard about from the others in your gathering.
The two reincarnated shook for a moment, looking at this before someone else came into the kitchen and saw them not working. It was their king who was the head maid here in this castle. She screamed at them to get back to work, or they would get the whip. The sound of her footsteps approaching them made the two quake, but before she could do anything, a loud sound got her attention.
That sound was the Lord's bell, and the maid quickly walked off to answer it. The two reincarnated were in pure shock before more words formed in the water from the bubbles.
The Omnissiah Protects, as do I. Run and be free again. I will help guide you there, my cogs.
Then, the symbol and words faded away. The two reincarnated siblings looked at where they had been and then at each other. Then they returned to work with a fury, thinking the same thing. This must be a miracle like the ones from him above, like the ones the Cult said happened to true believers like the Speaker and the Herald.
They would do it and run after telling the others of this miracle.